Job 16

1 Then Job answered, and said:

Bvt Iob answered, and said,

2 I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.

I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?

Shall there be none ende of wordes of winde? or what maketh thee bold so to answere?

4 I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul. I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.

I could also speake as yee doe: (but woulde God your soule were in my soules stead) I could keepe you company in speaking, and could shake mine head at you,

5 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.

6 But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.

Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?

7 But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.

But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,

8 My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.

And hast made me full of wrinkles which is a witnesse thereof, and my leannes ryseth vp in me, testifying the same in my face.

9 He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.

His wrath hath torne me, and hee hateth me, and gnasheth vpon mee with his teeth: mine enemie hath sharpened his eyes against me.

10 They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.

They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.

11 God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.

God hath deliuered me to the vniust, and hath made mee to turne out of the way by the hands of the wicked.

12 I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.

I was in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.

13 He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth.

His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.

14 He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.

He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.

15 I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.

I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.

16 My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.

My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,

17 These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.

Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.

O earth, couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.

19 For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.

For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.

20 My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.

My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.

21 And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!

Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!

22 For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.

For the yeeres accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not returne.